Worksite Wellness Legislation

**The 2022 Texas State Agency Worksite Wellness Report is now available. View the 2022 Report.

Employee Wellness in Texas State Agencies

In 2007, the 80th Legislature amended Government Code, Chapter 664 STATE EMPLOYEES HEALTH FITNESS AND EDUCATION. The amendment changed how state agencies put a state employee wellness program in place with several provisions, including:  

  • Agencies may put a wellness program in place based on a model and/or evidence-based components developed by DSHS.
  • Agencies must choose an employee to serve as the wellness liaison between the agency and the Statewide Wellness Coordinator.

The amendments and later legislation also provide new flexibility for administering wellness programs by enabling agencies to:

  • Develop an agency wellness council
  • Allow employees to participate in wellness council activities for two or more hours each month
  • Allow each employee 30 minutes during normal working hours for exercise three times each week
  • Allow all employees time to attend on-site wellness seminars when offered  
  • Include financial incentives for participation, onsite clinic or pharmacy services, and additional wellness policies.

Online, please visit Government Code, Chapter 664 for full details.